Tánaiste promises Brexit support measures in Budget

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald Picture: Maxwells

Cormac McQuinn

FINANCIAL measures to help businesses affected by Brexit access credit and an expansion of Enterprise Ireland and IDA overseas offices are on the table for Budget 2018.

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald confirmed that the measures were being considered as she insisted the Government was also dealing with concerns over housing and infrastructure raised by multinationals considering locating here.

Ms Fitzgerald has already met Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in relation to the Budget and expects to have further talks with him this week.

Speaking at an event in Dublin, she said the Government will seek to support "strong, viable businesses" that may run into difficulties due to Brexit.

"We want to look at a number of initiatives to support those businesses in the short to medium term to cope with the Brexit challenge, so I'm discussing with Minister Donohoe how we'll do that."

Asked if financial support for small and medium enterprises was on the table she replied: "Well, I think in the Brexit situation we do need to make sure that there's access to credit at a reasonable rate."

Meanwhile, she also signalled that the planned expansion of Ireland's network of representatives from agencies such as IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia was likely to form part of the upcoming Budget. She said the Government wants "more people on the ground in the markets that our companies - our beef, our dairy, our food - need to diversify into".

Finance Minister Donohoe has said there will be a Brexit package in the Budget.